Improvement in hoop-skirts



l "dhdtrll States K. MCRAIIz NEWAYORK, N. Y.

Letters PdtentiNo. 95,625, dated October 5, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOPI-SKIRTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concerne' Be it known that I, K. MCRAE, of thel cityand county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Skeleton Skirts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the junctions of the tapes with the hoops. The tapes are woven with pockets, adapted to receive the hoops, in the manner shown in the patent issued to James Draper and S. H. Doughty, dated October 4, 1859. Thehoops, unlike the Draper-Doughty arrangement, are not contained in all the pockets. They are fastencd-to some by clasps peculiarly arranged, so that the body of the clasp is enclosed within the pockets, and the prongs are made eiicient in tightly holding the hoop against the tape on the inner face of the skirt.

My invention, by embracing the body of the clasp within the woven material, so that it is covered on both faces by the soft fabric, avoids the injurious effect on other articles of dress, and particularly avoids the offensive appearance to the eye due to the exhibition of large metallic surfaces. I find that the hoops are held very efiiciently, and that the skirts are much liked. y

I will proceed to describe what I. consider vthe best means of carrying out my invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this `specification.

Figure lis a view frointhe outside of the skirt, showing a portion of the tape, with the adjacent parts of the hoops;

Figure 2 represents a view from the interior of the skirt, showing the same portion of the tape, with the visible portion of the hoops and clasps adjacent;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line a: x, lig. 2;

Figure 4 is a verticalv section on the line y Iy in g. 2; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line in p' g. 2.

(These gures 'represent 'what I consider the best form of my invention. All the junctions ofthe hoops to the tapes, throughout the entire skirt, may he formed similarly to those here represented.)

Figure 6 represents a single long clasp, applied within a single or ordinary pocket, that is to say, a pocket woven in the ordinary manner, in a single breadth. l

Figure 7 represents three short clasps tted within a pocket, divided into three separate pockets, or more properly, sections of pockets.

Figure 8 represents two short clasps, tted within two sections of such pocket, while a third section receives and aids to support the hoop.

Figure Qrepresents two short clasps, fitted within two sections of a pocket, while two other sections receive and aid to support the hoop.

Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, represent the exterior views of the tapes for all these luodications.

Figure 10 represents what l terni the needle, for

inserting the clasps in the ditiicult position required.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. f

A and Bare the two sides of thetape. The part which is presented on the exterior face ot' the skirt is always continuous, and is wider than the pocket or pockets. AThis side is indicated by A.

The side B, whichfis presented lon the inner side of the skirt, may be a continuous breadth, as shown in iig (i, or it may be divided into two, three, four, or y other breadths, each distinct from the other, as indicated in figs., 2, 7, S, and t). M y invention applies, with some success, to skirts made with any number of such divisions in the pockets, but I` prefer three, as indicated in iig. 2.

C is the hoop. 1t is of tlat teln'pered steel, covered with braid, starchedand finished in the most approved manner, so as to ati'ord an etlicient covering for the hoop, and one which will not he readily soiled, and yet sufficiently soft to allow' the clasps to become embedded in the covering, and to hold the hoops very strongly against an endwise or sliding movement.

D (l {1,fig. 4, is the clasp, the body being represcnted'by I), and the arms which embrace the hoop by al (l.

In all the niodilications of' the forni, the body D is within the pocket ofthe tape, and the arins'd l project out toward thc inner face of the skirt, and embrace the hoop`(., and tightly hold the part B of the tape between the body of the clasp and the hoop.

This novel arrangement of the parts may be applied either in the forni indicated in tig. 6, where the entire pocket is in one breadth, or in the form indicated in figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9, where the pocket is in ltln'ee breadths, or in any form where the pockets are in two, four, or other number of breadths.

In cases where the pocket is in three breadths, as

in ligs. 2, 7, 8, 9, I vprefer to employ only one clasp, the width being but little greater than that of one ot' the parts ofthe pocket, and to place this clasp within the middle breadth, as represented in tig. 2; but I can use a single clasp, extending the whole breadth of three pockets, or three clasps, one for each breadth of the pocket; or I can usc two clasps, one -in each of the exterior' breadths of the pocket, omitting the middle one; or I can use one clasp in either of the pockets, as preferred.

AThe clasps are necessarily inserted while the prongs or arms are in an extended condition. 'lhey are7 in this condition', difeuit objects to insert in the limited,

'space oiferedhy the pockets. In order to readily inbe fixed in the wall, or in any suitable part of the flaming of a machine, in which latter casel the maf chine may be made to move the spout, to insert it, with its contents, within the pocket of the tape; or the machine may be made -to move the `tape upon the spout, so as to bring the parts in the proper relation to eachother, while the spout 'is itself ilnrnorably held in 'a horizontal, slightly inclined, or other convenient position. l l

I t will be understood that the clasp is introduced int-o the spout, by hand or otherwise, before the spout is insertedin the pocket of the tape; that the spout is deep enough to receive the clasp, with its prongs,

l entire, and thus to prevent the prongs of the clasp from catching the fabric while beinginserted.

After the clasps are thus introduced in their respectve places, the spout is withdrawn, either by rc versed motion, or by continuing its motion through the pocket, which latter may be preferable in some instances,when,operated by hand, and the clasp is l left in the proper position within the pocket, ready,

ou the hoop-being presented iu the proper relation between the arms of the clasp, to have the prongs forcibly bent down by the ordinary machines, or by other means.

A pressure of the nger upon the spout, immediately over the clasp, is sutlicient to retain the clasp in position while the spout is being withdrawn. In order to insure this effect, as also for other obvious reasons, it is important that the spout be only a very little deeper than the length of the prongs.

lVhenever the pocket is made in three, or any other number of vdivisions greater than one, and the clasp is applied within one, or any other number less than the whole of ysuch divisions, I introduce the hoop so that it shall pass within the other divisions of the pocket; that is to say, the hooplies necessarily outside of those pockets where the clasp applies, but it lies Within the other portions of the pocket.

This arrangement is shown in several modifications in figs. 2, 8, and 9. `I prefer the entire construction and arrangement shown in fig. 2. It allows the hoop to be very eiciently sustained in the vertical direction by two sections of the pocket, while it is very eiiciently fastened against slipping by the clasp applied within the middle section. y

The Weaving of the pockets iu separate sections or divisions is effected by multiplying the divisions in which the Work of weaving at this'point is accomplished. It will oicrno diiiiculty to weavers accustomed to the manufacture of pocketed tapes. Each section is Woven separately, in the same manner as a single side of the pocket is ordinarily woven.

I am aware o f' the application of George H. Young, filed June 1, 1869, and therefore make no `claim to whatever inventiou'there is embraced in said application.

I claim as new, Patent- The combination of a skirt-tape, A B, formed with pockets, with the hoop C and clasp I) d, as described, when the latter is inserted within the said pocket or pockets, between the hoop and the front side ot' the and desire to secure by Letters tape, thus concealing its body, while its prongs grasp the hoop at each end ofthe said tially as before described. y

In testimony wliereot', I have hereunto set my name, in presence oit'wo subscribing witnesses.

' K. MCRAE.

pocket, substan- \Vitnesses C. O. Lrvrxes, W. C. Dm', 

